Combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy and radiation for advanced esophageal cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06173986 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated December 2023 · Translation generated July 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new treatment approach for advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer that cannot be surgically removed. The study combines a PD-1 inhibitor (a type of immunotherapy that helps your body's immune system fight cancer) with chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy. Researchers believe this combination might shrink tumors more effectively than traditional treatment alone.

Immunotherapy has shown promise in treating advanced esophageal cancer, but doctors are still figuring out the best way to combine it with chemotherapy and radiation. This trial aims to find out whether adding the medication to standard chemoradiotherapy can improve outcomes and reduce how much cancer remains after treatment.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 75 years old
you have been diagnosed with advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer that cannot be surgically removed
you are in good enough overall health to tolerate intensive treatment (ECOG performance status 0-1)
you have not received any prior cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy
your heart, lung, liver, kidney, and blood cell counts are functioning adequately

You likely don't qualify if…

you have had another type of cancer in the past 5 years
you have lost more than 20% of your body weight in the past 90 days
you have serious uncontrolled medical conditions such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, lung disease, active hepatitis, or heart failure
you have a known allergy to the study drugs or have active autoimmune disease
you have had major surgery, serious bleeding events, or thrombotic events in the past 2 months

What participation looks like

You would receive two cycles of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy first, followed by several weeks of concurrent treatment combining the medication, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The radiation component delivers 45–50 Gray of radiation over 25 daily sessions. Throughout the study, you would have regular clinic visits for blood tests, imaging scans, and physical exams to monitor how well the treatment is working and watch for any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 21, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

China

Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai